Earlier in the year, February of 2012, I was doing a crossfit WOD that required a max load power snatch. For those not familiar with a power snatch, CLICK HERE FOR DEMONSTRATION VIDEO.
Notice from the video example that your feet will come off the ground from the momentum of the lift. Well, when my right foot came down it landed the wrong position and my knee went the oposite way, I heard a small tear.
The pain was not significant at the time, but I was like, “what the fuck was that?” saying to my partner, “Did you hear that?”
I kept on through the routine, finishing off with box jumps.
I really felt fine during the workout, but upon waking the next day I could barely walk. Putting just the slightest pressure on my knee cause significant pain.
I rested a good two months with the whole R.I.C.E. method, and everyday got a little better. In April of this year, I decided it was time to start training again, and attempted another crossfit routine, which included box jumps.
I felt great during the workout, but after noticed a slight pain. The next morning, I was back to square one, this time with a burning sensation in my kneecap.
It was time to go to the doctor.
I took some X-rays the next day, and saw a doctor that looked way to busy to help me. I told him everything that happened and he said it is likely a small tear, but nothing major due to the movement he preformed on my leg. He blamed the pain on arthritis, due to small bone spurs he found, and said see me in 6 months if there is any more pain.
Well, there was more pain, anytime I did any sort of pounding ie. running, jumping, ect. my knee would flair up.
Back to the doctor.
In the last two weeks I had the doctor check it out again, give me a MRI, and just recently on Thursday of this week, give me the diagnosis.
The diagnosis: Chondromalacia Petella
It’s basically the softening of the tissue behind the knee. The tissue will continue to wear down, especially during high impact exercises, leaving me with some bone to bone pain in a few years if not careful. He told me it’s time to make some serious lifestyle changes or I will be back in his office begging him for a new knee.
It does indeed look like my plyometric days are over, but the good news is I can still lift. I’ve gained about 20 pounds of unwanted weight this year due to the whole injury, but finally relieved that I have a diagnosis for my knee.
It looks like I will be taking up swimming this year, so from now on refer to me as Michael Phelps. One thing is for certain, the weight is coming off this year, my knee will get stronger, and I will be chasing gold medals all year long, on and off the field.
2013 is going to be a great year.
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At least your taking it in stride. No pun. Sorry to hear it, but your attitude is right. Best to you and yours this Christmas Cajun!
Thanks Wood. Same to you and yours.
Don’t worry, we will still be able to preform our ghetto workouts at the annual meetings.
Sounds awful. Love plyo. But there is plenty of other shit you can do.
Had a wicked chasing dream a couple of weeks ago – awoke because my dumb ass did some sort of kick / extension with my right leg and tore my quad.
30 years of mostly injury free lifting – now I rip my fucking thigh in my sleep. Rice never worked for me.( tried four days off – yuck ) Always work through it. Plyo again for me ? Doubt it.
Sorry to vent.
RICE sucks, staying off it helped the most.
Y.
The Docs will be offering new knees. Fwiw. Heed the exhorting.
I do.
Bike over running for e.g., etc.
no worries Cajun, started swimming a few months back to shed that 20 you were talking about. Love it. Best no impact exercise out there. Merry Christmas
I took a swimming class in college, age 23, best shape of my life. We would swim 32 laps on a daily basis.
Miss those days.
Have had chondromalacia for decades, in both knees. Get back in the pool, get a bike, get your weight down and keep it off. Weather changes will become a lot of….. discomfort. And sometimes painful.
Thanks for the comment. I was hoping some other people would share their stories.
Cheers.
Feel better man. Swimming is great. You’ll enjoy it.
RC, I’m sorry to hear about the knee.
That said, if you ever need swimming ‘tips’, I spent the better part of my days from age 7-19 in a pool (and then coaching for a few years afterward), so I can help with just about anything that you might need help with. Feel free to DM me on Twitter, and I’ll be happy to assist.
Pulling your body through a medium that offers significantly more resistance than air is excellent exercise.